Ian Daniel Kehoe

Canadian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Ian Daniel Kehoe was playing in Toronto-based bands including <a href="spotify:artist:0vSv5t32LuXq1Fj25srtpH">Attack in Black</a> in the 2000s before releasing several solo albums under the moniker <a href="spotify:artist:4IGAuhsrGowIcxnpQqfUj2">Marine Dreams</a> between 2011 and 2015. Also a well-regarded touring sideman on the indie circuit, he made his recording debut under his own name with 2019's Secret Republic. While <a href="spotify:artist:4IGAuhsrGowIcxnpQqfUj2">Marine Dreams</a> took influence from classic psychedelic pop and power pop, his Kehoe material veered into new wave and synthy '80s pop. The prolific artist issued a trio of independent full-length albums in August 2020, then returned to label work with 2022's sleek Yes Very So on the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Tin+Angel%22">Tin Angel</a> imprint.

Before flexing his singer/songwriter muscle professionally, in the mid-2000s, Kehoe was playing in Toronto punk revival bands such as Keep It Up. Joining brothers <a href="spotify:artist:2kTXvMOmrHVjVewErG5kHD">Daniel</a> and Ian Romano and guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:4g86a03cASyc60kG0Rbgjq">Spencer Burton</a> in the post-hardcore group <a href="spotify:artist:0vSv5t32LuXq1Fj25srtpH">Attack in Black</a>, Kehoe doubled as co-songwriter and bassist for the band beginning with their <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Dine+Alone+Records%22">Dine Alone Records</a> debut, 2006's Widows EP. The full-length Marriage arrived in July 2007. Reportedly written and recorded in two nights, The Curve of the Earth followed three months later. Kehoe, <a href="spotify:artist:2kTXvMOmrHVjVewErG5kHD">Daniel Romano</a>, and guitarist Steve Lambke (<a href="spotify:artist:2olXFp5y1AwrgJA9YSV4Sn">Constantines</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6P97GNSi2UsdD78cqjjNox">Baby Eagle</a>) started the label <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22You%27ve+Changed+Records%22">You've Changed Records</a> in 2008, and <a href="spotify:artist:0vSv5t32LuXq1Fj25srtpH">Attack in Black</a> appeared on its inaugural release, backing <a href="spotify:artist:5feiuL9YrwTUV6KYUjkGWx">Shotgun Jimmie</a> on 2009's Still Jimmie. That year, the label also released a split LP by <a href="spotify:artist:0vSv5t32LuXq1Fj25srtpH">Attack in Black</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6P97GNSi2UsdD78cqjjNox">Baby Eagle</a>, and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Dine+Alone%22">Dine Alone</a> issued <a href="spotify:artist:0vSv5t32LuXq1Fj25srtpH">Attack in Black</a>'s third album, Years (By One Thousand Fingertips).

Citing influences including <a href="spotify:artist:3BqaUtuQmqIHg7B5Bc7fP7">Nick Lowe</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3RTzAwFprBqiskp550eSJX">Harry Nilsson</a>, Kehoe released an eponymous debut in 2011 under the solo alias <a href="spotify:artist:4IGAuhsrGowIcxnpQqfUj2">Marine Dreams</a>. Its catchy retro-pop inspirations reappeared on the albums Corner of the Eye and Lemon Tree in 2013 and 2014. The year 2014 also brought the release of Northern Register by Community Theatre, a band that included Kehoe and Lambke. The following year, Kehoe played drums on Lambke's solo LP Days of Heaven and issued Producer's Wonderland, his fourth and final release as <a href="spotify:artist:4IGAuhsrGowIcxnpQqfUj2">Marine Dreams</a>. Kehoe also spent much of the 2010s touring, primarily as drummer, for acts including <a href="spotify:artist:5mFKYdmiYwNJTDtSzgFyQx">Andy Shauf</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:12fRkVfO2fUsz1QHgDAG3g">Julia Jacklin</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:39ZEMGRv3pIYTYKEhr4Abu">the Weather Station</a>. <a href="spotify:artist:0vSv5t32LuXq1Fj25srtpH">Attack in Black</a> issued a limited-edition live collection called Got Live: If You're Interested for Record Store Day Black Friday in November 2018.

In March 2019, Kehoe made his debut under his own name with the full-length Secret Republic, released on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Tin+Angel%22">Tin Angel</a>. A self-recorded set with all instruments performed by Kehoe, it introduced a dreamy '80s-driven synth-pop style. For his next project, he revealed that he had completed three new albums, each one exploring a different facet of his sound. Released on the same day, August 6, 2020, Charging the Stone featured more direct songwriting in the vein of <a href="spotify:artist:4x1nvY2FN8jxqAFA0DA02H">John Lennon</a>, while Rock & Roll Illusion and Disco Body Buzz were respectively based around arena rock and electro-disco. Following this unique triptych, Kehoe returned to his primary canon with 2022's Yes Very So, another synth-driven collection inspired in part by <a href="spotify:artist:1DGpHnPOpMYY780hcQHmPB">Hiroshi Yoshimura</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2bN5hXtWZXEIfnHO34eXfe">Beverley Glenn-Copeland</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2ycnb8Er79LoH2AsR5ldjh">Pet Shop Boys</a>. ~ Marcy Donelson, Rovi